KBI AGENT WARNS OF ECSTASY ACCEPTANCE IN RAVE CULTURE

Bill Rowland doesn't have anything against "raves," the phenomenon of young
people gathering for hours of dancing to loud electronic music on a cramped
dance floor equipped with a light show worthy of "Star Wars."

"They're great," he said. "I'd go to them every weekend if my wife would
let me, but she won't."

But Rowland, a senior agent with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, does
have a problem with the drugs - Ecstasy, mostly - and the drug dealing that
appear to be an accepted part of rave culture.

Rowland, who's based in Wichita, said agents there know of "two of three
raves going on every weekend." As yet, he said, they don't appear to be as
popular in Lawrence.

At a rave in a college town, Rowland guessed, half the participants would
be on Ecstasy, a drug that causes the user to feel relaxed, euphoric and
ultra-sensitive to sensory stimulation.

"It's like LSD, but without the hallucinations," Rowland said.

Rowland was a featured speaker Monday at the annual Kansas Conference on
Social Welfare at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive. The conference
continues today with various workshops planned, including one about the
therapeutic value of Swedish massage. About 250 participants attended
Monday conference sessions.

It's not unusual for someone on Ecstasy to dance nonstop for six hours,
Rowland said. And because of the heightened sensitivity, users often line
up in front of 6-foot-tall speakers at a rave to take full advantage of the
vibrations.

"On Ecstasy, your senses skyrocket," he said. "They're 10 times normal, so
the vibrations from the speaker, to the person who's using, feel like a
full-body massage."

Though perfectly legal, Mentholatum, he said, is proving popular among
Ecstasy users because of its cooling sensation. It can be found in some
types of lip balms or migraine pads. Rowland said glow sticks also are popular.

Besides being illegal, Ecstasy has been linked to heart attacks, seizures
and brain damage.

Rowland said KBI undercover agents often go to raves to gather evidence
against suspected drug dealers.

Lt. Kathy Tate, spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department,
said "We're alert to (Ecstasy) being out there, and we would encourage
anyone with information about it to call the sheriff's department at
841-0007 or the tip hot line, which is 843-TIPS."